Yes, bad drivers are getting on my nerve. In particular, I am referring to those bad drivers who complain here on this forum about other bad drivers. I choose to discuss this in this section – hopefully we can have a more reasoned debate here.
I have resided on this island for decades and have driven here and overseas in many cities. Through the 3 decades of driving, I have been involved in accidents 3 times. The first time was 30 years ago when I was driving home in the early hours of the morning after a LONG day at work and was dead tired. My types hit the curbs a few times and woke me up. Suddenly a roadside tree decided to merge with me and rammed the front of my car. The engine was a total wreck and my steering wheel was bent. I had only some scratches on my head. Too bad I couldn’t blame the tree for not giving way to me.
The second accident occurred while I was driving around the Ring of Kerry 27 years ago. There was a light snow and I didn’t know there was a patch of black ice on the road near a bend. My car went off the road and ended up down a slide slope. Thank goodness for the kind Irish farmer who towed our car with his tractor. Too bad I couldn’t blame the whether or the road for my accident.
The third accident was in Singapore when a taxi just pulled out of the car park lot and rammed into the side of my car about 20 hears ago. Fortunately, in this instance, I can blame the taxi driver.
Fast forward to the present.
There are many threads in this forum about how bad the drivers in Singapore are. Some are even more specific – how bad Singaporean drivers are.
Let me state at the outset that, yes, there are bad drivers in Singapore, just like any major cities in the world. In comparing driving skills and habits, it is important to compare with similar cities in the world. City driving is hectic, chaotic and egocentric. For example, in general, driving is pleasant and the drivers are civil and polite in the English countryside. On the other hand, driving in London can be as unpleasant as driving here in Singapore. So, treat Singapore as city driving – since the whole of Singapore is a city.
Here are my pet peeves about driving in Singapore:
1) Not signaling intention using the indicator when turning at traffic junctions.
2) Turning on the turning indicator just before turning or after stopping at the junction.
3) Slow traffic hogging the fast lanes.
I am particularly irritated by those who stopped at the traffic on the right lane, which is meant both for going forward and turning left. Many a times, those who intend to turn right don’t bother to turn on the indicator. If they have done so, I would not have lined up behind them if I intend to go straight ahead. These idiots probably think the drivers behind them can read their mind and their intention.
There are a lot of inconsiderate drivers on the roads in Singapore. I put it down to the hectic pace of life and the rat race. Many are not being intentionally rude, but are just too pooped at the end of the day to care much. After paying an arm and a leg for my car, I will drive the way I want – you who are driving behind better watch out.
My most pleasant driving experiences were in the countryside in the UK. Just one example to highlight the differences about driving in the UK and Singapore. In the UK countryside, when you are coming onto a major road from a minor road, the car on the major road will flicker his headlight to indicator that he’s giving way to you. In Singapore, the same flickering of the headlight is to warn the driver on the minor road “here I come, you better give way to me.” Same signal, but totally different intentions.
I have no problems about merging. My life-long habit is to glance at the rear-view mirror even so often. This way, I am able to keep track of the traffic behind me. More importantly, I am aware of any motorcycles that might have got into the blind spots. So, I am able to switch lanes easily.
Now, let’s go on to some of the complaints in the other threads. This one takes the cake.
<<<It is not racist but a statement of fact that - the majority of drivers in Singapore have absolutely no "road awareness".>>>
For crying out loud, what has racism got to do with the price of eggs? What has race got to do with driving and drivers? The only races I can think of are Formula 1 and Grand Prix. More so in the context of Singapore where they are so many races. Or is the complainant thinking of a certain race?
Yes, I agree the majority of drivers in Singapore lack road awareness. That is their problem. Deal with it instead of complaining. They are not going to change. You cope with it by anticipating their behaviour. For example, I am really cheesed off by pet peeve 1) above. But I deal with it by anticipating it. When I see a car stopping at the red light in front of me, I do a quick mental assessment of whether he is turning right or not. I will make a bet with whoever is sitting next to me and say, “this jerk is turning right, but he is not indicating his intention”. The most I would do is to give him a nasty long hoot with my horn when passing him. And just as equally likely, the “him” turns out to be a blonde ang mo lady. So, let’s not bring race into this.
Bad drivers can be found in every major city. Instead of griping ad nauseam, deal with it by improving your own driving skills and employing defensive driving. Problem with merging? Just think ahead and get in correct lane early. Honestly, I never have this problem here.
